Realizing The Potential Of Data And Ensuring Its Security At The Food Group

By Manas Mishra, AVP – Data Science & Analytics, Food Group

Data and analytics are probably two of the most talked about trends in this digital age. In the recent decades, we have seen how data-driven solutions became key enablers for business decisions. usage of data is becoming institutionalized, therefore, ensuring the practice of secured sharing has to be a mandate. When we are focused on deriving insights and using data in day to day operations, many times we forget about the security aspect of the data.

The Food Group has built a solution called Analytics Central, which not only addresses the access of all the data driven solutions at a single place, but also takes care of data security by adapting a double layer solution.

One-Stop Access

Analytics Central is a single stop portal for all Power BI (Business Intelligence) dashboards. Using the underlying concept of Power BI Embedded, it enables viewers in the corporate domain (i.e. aboitiz.com accounts) to access  shared dashboards without need for a developer license.

Data Security

Data shared through analytics central, is secured through two layers of authentication:

1. “Service Principal” access through Microsoft Azure and Power BI Embedded.
2. “Aboitiz.com” domain authentication

User level access control, approval and revoking of access, and programmatic facilitation of the dashboard is implemented on AWS data lake cloud solution.

Prior to launching Analytics Central, the Food Group had no central repository where all shared reports could be accessed. Analytics Central addressed data security issues and enabled governance when accessing dashboards and file sources. It also enabled scheduled refresh of dashboards for improved timeliness of data.

Benefits of Analytics Central

1. Data Security
2. Ease of Access
3. Governance of who get access to which dashboard
4. Ease of sharing
5. Saving on license cost for viewers

Currently, the majority of the executive leadership and team members in the Food Group have already started using Analytics Central. Some of its applications include The Good Meat, the Food Group COVID-19 Health Pass, Feeds and Farm divisions’ Operational Dashboards, and Budget Presentation for management meetings.

The ease that Analytics Central introduced in doing business and operations in the Food Group has encouraged other Aboitiz BUs to explore the same solution. Currently, UnionBank and AEV are looking at establishing a similar system for their operations.

The Analytics Central project implementation was made possible by:

Cesar Cruz, Data Engineer
Cynthia Racaza, API/Integration Specialist
Bernadino Gaviola, Infrastructure Lead, Cloud Platform
Vic Michael Leuterio, Network and Comms Engineer
Edward Lacap, Manager, Robotics and AI
Gary Eugenio, IT Infrastructure and Operation Manager
Manasa Mishra, AVP, Data Science and Analytics
Gina Keune, VP for Digital and IT Management

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